31 Days: How to Cultivate a Heart for Hospitality

“If there is any concept worth restoring to its original depth and evocative potential, it is the concept of hospitality.”

Henri Nouwen

We’ve hit the middle mark of 31 Days of Outrageous Hospitality. So far, we’ve talked about excuses. Shared stories of what hospitality looks like to others. And, answered daily questions around the table about what outrageous hospitality means. Today, let’s go straight to the heart of the matter ~ cultivating a heart for hospitality.

For some of you offering hospitality is like breathing. Opening your heart and home just comes naturally. For others, it’s a struggle. The desire of your heart is right on target, but executing is painful. Most of us; however, squirm somewhere in the middle. Offering hospitality is a true joy, but we get easily distracted with the busyness of life and well, before we know it a month of Sundays has slipped by without doing anything outrageously hospitable.

How do we get back on track when we find ourselves slipping away from sharing with God’s people who are in need and offering hospitality? {Romans 12:13, btw}

How to cultivate a heart for hospitality.

Prayer. Only God can change your heart. You can try with all your might, but it’s really best to leave heart surgery to the Great Physician. Yesterday, I shared silly excuses for not offering hospitality. Behind the lame anecdotes, like my house is a mess and my legs aren’t shaved, are more serious matters of the heart. Pride. Fear. Laziness. Self-worth. Selfishness. What’s holding you back? Ask God to chisel out those heart hardening conditions. Ask him to give you a heart for hospitality. Say, “YES GOD! Show me, teach me, use me. Let’s do this outrageous hospitality thing!” Then step back and let God perform an open heart miracle.

God doesn’t ask us to be perfect, he asks us to be willing. Willing to fling the doors wide open and welcome friends and strangers alike into our hearts and homes. 

Community. We were created to be in community. To do life together.  Where do you spend time—work, school, on-line, home? Where do you go on a regular basis—grocery store, school, church, temple, sports fields, airports, doctor’s offices, AA meetings, supper clubs, book clubs, restaurants, movies, shopping malls, field trips, concerts, libraries. . .

Be observant wherever you go and you will find a need to be met. But the blessing of being in community is it’s not just a source of need, but of inspiration. We learn from those around us. Look around at the people in your life. Find people who are living a life for others and go and do likewise! It’s OK to be a copycat when you are emulating Christ-like behavior! 

Read these two stories for beautiful examples of Outrageous Hospitality:

 You Can’t Be What You Can’t See {from my friend Maggie Tate}

The House Named Gracie {from my friend Jennifer Lee}

Sabbath. For those of you who don’t know (or remember), my word for 2013 is Sabbath. At the rate I’m learning it may very well be my word for the next decade. Oh friends, I cannot express enough our need for true rest. Sabbath is as much of a heart condition as hospitality. Sabbath and Hospitality are like main arteries pumping in and flowing out of our hearts.

The word Sabbath is derived from the Hebrew word Shabbat, which means “cessation” or “time of rest”. Taking a day to rest from the worldly activities in our 24/7 lives, allows God to fill our cup so we can pour it out. When we practice the gift of Sabbath, we are refueled to offer outrageous hospitality.

 Day #15 Table Talk: Why do you think hospitality is important to God?